Airbnb hosts lobby LA City Council for fair home sharing rules

Airbnb hosts from across Los Angeles gathered at LA City Hall last week to meet with council members and advocate for common sense short-term rental regulations that allow Angelenos to share their home while cracking down on bad actors who remove housing from the rental market. The City’s Planning and Land Use Committee is expected to weigh in on short-term rental policy Tuesday, June 13.

This Lobby Day was an opportunity for Airbnb hosts to advocate for fair home sharing rules as the LA City Council actively considers introducing a short-term rental ordinance that may significantly restrict the number of nights hosts can rent out their home, and place a ban on home sharing in listings without a primary resident.

“Being an Airbnb host has allowed me to afford to stay in my home.”

Peggy Sturdivant, Airbnb host, Leimert Park

Peggy Sturdivant, an Airbnb host who shares a room in her South LA Home, said she would like the City Council to consider rethinking the 180-day cap on hosts who share their primary residences. “I am recently retired and while the cost of living in LA continues to grow, my income doesn’t,” she says. “Being an Airbnb host has allowed me to afford to stay in my home.”

The proposed restrictions would be a burden to thousands of families who rely on home sharing to make ends meet and stay in their homes. Airbnb has helped 3,400 hosts stay in their homes and the typical host earns $8,100 a year to help their mortgage, rent, or bills.

In recent weeks hosts throughout LA have shared their stories about how home sharing allows families to continue making ends meet, stimulates economic growth in local communities, and contributes to LA’s vibrant tourism industry. Airbnb, and hosts from across LA, have made it clear they want to cooperate with city officials and community leaders on rules that work for everyone.

“We urge lawmakers to enact rules that support this economic empowerment throughout our city – not shut it down.”

John Choi, Airbnb Policy Manager, LA

“We are here today to call for fair regulations that protect LA’s neighborhoods and allow hosts to continue earning those critical dollars Angelenos rely on to make ends meet,” said John Choi, Airbnb’s Southern California Policy Manager to a group of hosts gathered on the steps of City Hall. “We want to be regulated, but we urge lawmakers to enact rules that support this economic empowerment throughout our City – not shut it down.”

Last year, Airbnb hosts and guest generated more than $1 billion in economic impact for the city, and much of that spending stayed in communities that don’t typically benefit from the city’s vibrant tourism industry.

“We’re generating $1.1 billion for the City of Los Angeles, and they want to cut that in half?”

Vanessa Johnson, Airbnb host, South LA

As the City continues to move discussions on short-term rental policy forward, it’s critical to make it clear that Angelenos want to protect their right to share their homes year-round to make important extra income, while enabling guests from around the world to travel affordably to LA and spread tourism dollars across the city.

“The City Council is telling me I’m limited to the amount of money that I can make sharing my home,” Says South LA host Vanessa Johnson. “Not only that, we’re generating $1.1 billion for the City of Los Angeles, and they want to cut that in half? They’re limiting themselves.”